Man Charged With Arnhem Land Murder Granted Bail to Tiwi Islands
A 20-year-old man charged with murder in Milingimbi appeared in the Northern Territory Supreme Court and was granted bail to live with family on Bathurst Island. The court imposed electronic monitoring and other strict conditions. He is scheduled to return to court in July.
A 20-year-old man charged with murder and unlawful serious harm appeared in the Northern Territory Supreme Court on Tuesday and was granted bail to live with family more than 500 kilometres away in the Tiwi Islands. Justin Bukulatjpi faced Justice Judith Kelly after a brawl in Milingimbi last month that left a 26-year-old man dead.
Defence barrister Louise Dart told the court that Bukulatjpi's extended family had moved to Bathurst Island to reduce conflict in central Arnhem Land.
Crown prosecutor Deborah Mandie did not oppose bail but described the case as very strong. She said prosecutors would rely on more than 10 minutes of mobile phone footage showing Bukulatjpi wielding a knife and using a chair as a weapon. Justice Kelly accepted that Bukulatjpi needed to be free to prepare for court and obtain legal advice.
She noted the conditions on remand in prison and expressed a high degree of confidence that he would follow bail conditions. Bukulatjpi will be released from custody on Friday and fitted with an electronic monitoring device. He must report to police and stay away from the community's ferry terminal and airport.
His case will return to court in July.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
3 events- Last month
A brawl in Milingimbi resulted in the death of a 26-year-old man.
1 sourceAbc - Tuesday
Justin Bukulatjpi appeared in the Northern Territory Supreme Court and was granted bail.
1 sourceAbc - Friday
Bukulatjpi will be released from custody and fly to Bathurst Island.
1 sourceAbc
Potential Impact
- 01
Bukulatjpi will live under electronic monitoring and movement restrictions until his July court date.
- 02
The case will proceed with video evidence presented at the next hearing.
Transparency Panel
Related Stories
The GuardianWHO Chief Visits DRC as Ebola Death Rate Reaches 30-50%
World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to support containment of a new Ebola outbreak. The agency revised the death rate to 30-50% based on confirmed cases and recorded 10 confirmed and 223 suspected d…
westernjournal.comGreek National Charged in UK With Aiding Iran-Linked Intelligence Service
A 46-year-old Greek man living in Germany was charged under the UK National Security Act with assisting an intelligence service believed to be Iran by targeting a journalist at Iran International.
straitstimes.comJournalists in Gaza to Receive 2026 Golden Pen of Freedom Award
Three international news agencies will accept the award on behalf of their local staff still reporting from the territory. The World Association of News Publishers cited the journalists' continued coverage under extreme conditions.